There was a lot of excitement generated when the names of the three great bands who would be appearing at our Hogmanay Gathering; and we are pleased to report that the 2017 Red Hot Highland Fling more than lived up to the weeks of anticipation that preceded it. Opening the show in Northern Meeting Park Arena were Hò-rò; who were winners of the “Danny Kyle award” at Celtic Connections; and quickly showed 12,000 delighted Highland Flingers from all over Scotland and beyond why they are amongst the most popular new bands on the European music festival scene.

Hò-rò were followed by two former winners of the prestigious “Scottish Traditional Music Live Band of the Year Award”; with Skipinnish given the honour of headlining the show in the prestigious middle position; which is a tradition that is unique to our show; and enables as many youngsters as possible to see the headline act perform.

Closing the show, and making sure that the music paused just in time for a spectacular fireworks display at midnight were Skerryvore. A firm favourite with the Inverness crowd; Skerryvore are one of the few bands in the world that organises its own annual music festival, Oban Live, which now attracts over 10,000 visitors each year.

The show was hosted by Comedian Craig Hill who had travelled the world en route to Inverness with his sell out show Someone’s gonna get kilt!”.